Nakorotubu District
Nakorotubu is a district in Fiji's Ra Province. It is made up seven sub-districts or Tikina makawa, namely, Kavula, Nakorotubu, Navitilevu, Bure-i-wai, Bure-i-vanua, Mataso, and Nakuailava.
Geography
The first four are coastal districts with extensive inland undulating and rugged terrain, while the rest are all inland. Fishing, sugar cane, coconut, taro, tapioca and a range of local vegetables are the main trading merchandise.
Chiefly title
In 1986, the 'Bose Vanua Cokovata Nakorotubu' held in Namarai village appointed as the traditional leader -the late Turaga na Gonesau, Ratu Dr Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani OBE, younger brother of the late Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) MBE, from the chiefly village of Nabukadra in the district of Kavula. Their father, Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani (1) held the British colonial title of chief administrator of Kavula District - 'Buli Kavula' from 1911- 1932.
According to Sayes, Sally Annes, Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) (their Great Grandfather) declared Nakorotubu as an independent state in 1860 to protest of Cakobau declaring himself as a self-styled Tui Viti during the Deed of Cession negotiation with Great Britain.
The cause of the protest must have been inspired from an ancestral feud and dislike which had trickled down from Raivalita, (Ratu Meli Salabogi's (1) Grandancestor) on a sex scandal by Niumataiwalu, high chief from the Vuanirewa clan in Lau with Raivalita's brother's wife (Nadurucoko 2's wife- Radini Levuka). This resulted in the birth of Banuve (Cakobau's grandfather).
Nadurucoko 2 later sent a tabua (whales tooth) to Ono i Lau as a price for Niumataiwalu's head which resulted in his death when he was murdered by a Ono i Lau chief (Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, Julia Brooke-White - 1986).
According to historical records, both Raivalita and Nadurucoko 2 were sons of Nailatikau Nabuinivuaka (1) and grandsons of Nadurucoko 1, the ruler of Korolevu Fort near Dewala creek in the interior of Nakorotubu in the Ra province. Nailatikau (1) had murdered his brother Vurewa near the Dewala creek (refer to native reserve map marked as Laba) and ran away to his half-brother, Nacamavuto (same mother in Senibuli) on the Ra coast of Kavula, who then gave him a tabua and advised him to spent time in exile in Bau with his relative, the Roko Tui Bau (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918).
While settling in Bau, the overall chief of Bau at that time - Roko Tui Bau observed Nailatikau (1) superior tactical confrontation in warfare (NLC Records 1918, 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna' by Ratu Isoa Natuituba). Roko Tui Bau then bestowed him as the first Vunivalu (Warlord) of Kubuna, arranged for Adi Kulanawa from Verata as his wife and also named Nailatikau (1) eldest son as Raivalita or Raivolita.
Nailatikau's (1) loyal warriors that were guarding the top of Korolevu Fort (Delainakorolevu) along the Dewala creek (leading into the Wainibuka river) in the interior of Nakorotubu followed him to Bau (referred to as Yavusa Delai). He later banished them to Levuka, Lakeba in Lau for eating a fish harvest without any prior traditional presentation to him. Nailatikau (1) named one of the two hills on Bau island as Uluinaceva in memory of the Yavusa Ratu hill fort near Nabukadra village and Delainakoro in short for Delainakorolevu in the interior of Nakorotubu along the Dewala creek. The two hills were partly leveled during the construction of the Vunivalu tomb in 1982.
A few years after Nailatikau (1) had passed on, Niumataiwalu (Vuanirewa) led a delegation of the Yavusa Delai from Levuka, Lakeba in Lau to Bau to seek forgiveness to his younger son, Nadurucoko 2 (who was away in Vuna, Taveuni at that time) on the unauthorized eating of the fish harvest that was meant for his late father. During the merry making/celebration after the forgiveness function (matanigasau/ soro), the adultery affair was committed by Nadurucoko 2's wife and Niumataiwalu that resulted in the birth of Banuve who begat Tanoa and who begat Cakobau. This was also how the Vunivalu's wife- title became known as Radini Levuka or the Queen of Levuka.
Based on this earlier ancestral scandal, Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) together with other Nakorotubu and Viwa chiefs raised their concerns about Cakobau (being Niumataiwalu's descendant and not of the original Vunivalu) self-declaring himself as Tui Viti (Smythe Report to Queen Victoria). As a follow up from this protest, Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) declared Nakorotubu as an independent state from Fiji in 1860. (Haynes. S.A 1984). The deed of cession to Great Britain was put on hold for another fourteen (14) years until 1874 when Ratu Meli Salabogi had passed on.
To maintain traditional stability during post 'deed of cession' era, one of the descendants of Raivalita, eldest child of the 1st Vunivalu Nailatikau Nabuinivuaka will reside for one night at the Vatanitawake Chiefly house in Bau, guarded by Nakorotubu traditional warriors, i.e. 1959 installation (Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani (2)) and the aborted June 8th 2018 installation (Ratu Meli Salabogi Malani (4)). A tabua (whales tooth) of request will be presented the next morning by Tunitoga (Chief Representative of the Vunivalu) to Raivalita's descendant at Vatanitawake requesting him to lead the delegation across to Mataiwelagi to handover the authority of 'Vunivalu kei Kubuna' through a ritual handover speech, hand shake and 'yabo' i.e. breath-in kiss on the cheek. He will then lead the Vunivalu-elect only to the entrance of the installation shed before he retreats to Vatanitawake and will not be part of the second installation. The second installation for the Tui Kaba title, is performed by Roko Tui Bau, Tunitoga and the Tui Kaba clan.
There is another NLC ex-file version (private interview of Rt Meli Salabogi-NLC records, 1918) that explains the Vatanitawake handover. This is by virtue of Dewala/Dauwala's wife having an affair with Vueti at Suva (near Bureiwai) upon his return from his victory over the twins in Nakauvadra en route to Moturiki and then later Bau. This resulted in the birth of Nadurucoko, Raivalita's grandfather. Hence when his son, Nailatikau Buinvuaka was chased by the Dewala warriors, he was advised and given a tabua by his half brother (Nacamavuto from Kavula) to flee to Bau and introduce himself to his great-grandfather (Vueti) the first original Roko Tui Bau. He was then installed as his Vunivalu. Therefore the handover ceremony is undertaken by a descendant from Nakorotubu with two (2) hats of authority, i.e original Vunivalu and Roko Tui Bau.
Other chiefly lineages within Nakorotubu district differs according to their respective heritage.
History
In the centre of Nabukadra is the grave of Ratu Mara Kapaiwai, a high chief of Bau Island, who was killed as a result of intra-family rivalries involving his cousin, the then ruler of the kingdom of Bau, Ratu Seru Cakobau in the early 19th century (Deryck Scarr, 1980).
The grave remains a prominent landmark in the centre of the village (Deryck Scarr, 1980), a showcase of victory over Bau. The Nakorotubu warriors snatched the body from Bau and had a proper burial in Nabukadra before Kapaiwai's heart could be eaten by Cakobau. This action prevented Kapaiwai's descendants (such as the late Fiji's statesman and first Fiji Legislative Council Speaker- Ratu Sir Vanayaliyali Sukuna) to be relegated as insignificant in status (bokola).
Other recorded significant victories by the Nakorotubu warriors include the Puakaloa or Vuakaloa campaign conquer of the old chiefly Kedekede fort of the Vuanirewa clan in Lakeba, Lau (Reid, A.C 1980) and the conquer of the whole of Vanua Levu (Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata) in the ' Torotorosila campaign' (Sayes, S.A 1984), (see also Reid, A.C 1990).
Nakorotubu is also well known for its richness in culture and tradition. Some of Fiji's best traditional dances or meke such as 'raude' now turned into a song by the famous Black Rose band which originates from Nakorotubu. The Fiji Military Forces has adopted a number of these mekes as its own, as well as a number for leading public schools in Fiji such as Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.
Infrastructure and development
Public infrastructure is not as well developed compared to other districts in Fiji which does not help with people living their daily lives, but there is an impressive degree of resilience and unity among the local people which is a hallmark of the people of Ra Province that enables them to create the best out of their beautiful natural environment.
The picturesque inland districts are joined to other provinces by the Kings Road, one of the country's main roads, which is struggling to receive sufficient fund to complete the tar-sealing work for the last remaining kilometers.
Development projects are generally carried out on a communal basis with finances coming from government, donors and the people themselves. Examples of projects are village pipe water system, power generation, village toilets and septic tanks, village meeting halls, nursing and health stations, schools and pre-school facilities etc.
Many landowning units are interested in developing their land commercially and whilst there are many options, growing organic produces for export will fetch a healthy return. Given the scarcity of capital, many people will be keen to discuss with prospective investors how they together can develop the land commercially on a joint venture and mutually beneficial basis.
References
- Native Lands Commission (NLC) Records, 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, Bau Island Hearing, 1918'
- Roko Tui Bau- Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi's Kubuna Confederacy speech at Turaga Gonesau- Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani funeral 2005'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wLcwWZ0TOs
- A History of Fiji, By Ronald Albert Derrick, Published 1946, Print. and Stationery Dept. Fiji Islands, Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Digitized 23 Aug 2007.
- Journal of The Paths of the Land: Early Political Hierarchies in Cakaudrove, Fiji', Sayes, S.A. 1984 '
- Tovata I & II', A. C. Reid, 1990'
- Ratu Sukuna : soldier, statesman, man of two worlds', Deryck Scarr, 1980'
- Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review of Myth, Tradition, Institution, and Custom, Page 119 by Sidgwick; By Folklore Society, (Great Britain), Parish Register Society, (Great Britain), 1977'
- Fiji: The three legged stool. Selected writings of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. Edited by Deryck Scarr. Macmillan Education Ltd, London and Basingstoke, 1984'
- Yalo i Viti: Shades of Viti : a Fiji Museum Catalogue - Page 173 by Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, Julia Brooke-White - 1986; following is a snippet: Leha died trying to save Niumataiwalu, the father of the first Tui Nayau to rule Lakeba. Ironically, Niumataiwalu, who was assassinated at Ono in a plot...